JIM MOORE | Experienced Packers won't fear 12th man

Unlike Seahawks, Green Bay used to being in national spotlight

You can't come up with a better scenario than this — Monday Night Football at Century Link Field, Packers-Seahawks, the 12th man going absolutely bonkers like never before.

An established NFL team against one on the rise. A premier quarterback against a promising rookie. An explosive offense against a stifling defense.

We talked about the game all last week at 710 ESPN Seattle, breaking down everything imaginable, highlighting strengths vs. weaknesses.

Steve Sandmeyer brought up the best point of all, suggesting that Marshawn Lynch will unleash his inner Beast Mode on Green Bay because the Packers have a suspect run defense.

Frank Gore had his way with Green Bay in San Francisco's 30-22 season-opening win at Lambeau Field. Sandmeyer postulates that if Gore found plenty of room to run in a road game, Lynch should have creases galore in a home game.

If you're looking for other reasons to think the Seahawks, as 3-point underdogs, will win the game outright, you've got several factors in your favor:

Aaron Rodgers has been sacked eight times in the first two games, and wouldn't you think with the help of the 12th man that Chris Clemons and Bruce Irvin will get to the Packers' QB tonight?

The Packers, by their standards, have been sputtering, averaging only 247 yards through the air. San Francisco and Chicago used two deep safeties to eliminate big plays.

Green Bay will be further hampered by wide receiver Greg Jennings' questionable status with a groin injury.

If you want more good omens, Green Bay has not scored in the first quarter in either of its first two games — another bad start favors the Seahawks because Russell Wilson can continue his conservative ways at quarterback.

If you looked at both teams based on the matchups and what's happened this season, you could argue that Seattle should be a 3-point favorite instead of Green Bay.

But I'm looking at the game from a different perspective. Among the things that stand out to me:

The Seahawks under Pete Carroll, as researched by Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times, are 1-15 when the opponent scores more than 20 points. Don't you think that Green Bay will score in the 20s or 30s tonight? Then again, the Cowboys should've too — and what happened? They limped out of Century Link as 27-7 losers last week.

Just because Dallas struggled doesn't necessarily mean that Green Bay will too. The Packers have a better team than the Cowboys. Weren't they 15-1 last year? I just can't see a team that went 15-1 last year having a 1-2 start this year.

The 32nd-ranked Green Bay defense from a year ago is not the same defense this year. It's improved. Two rookies, Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels, are making a difference on the line. So is another rookie, linebacker Nick Perry.

The ball-hawking secondary is tougher now that Charles Woodson has moved from cornerback to safety. Tramon Williams had two interceptions against Chicago.

Led by Clay Matthews with six, the Packers have 11 sacks this season and figure to be in Wilson's face all night long.

With so many storylines, it's fun trying to determine how a game like this will play out.

Will the Seahawks take the next step from marginal team to playoff contender? Will they be spurred on to a rousing win over another legendary NFL team by the 12th man?

It's possible, but I don't think it will happen. Understanding that we're talking about 22 men with both teams, the Packers still have the best two players in tonight's game, Rodgers and Matthews, one on each side of the ball.

They also have considerable experience playing in settings like this. When the pressure's on and you can't hear yourself think at Century Link, the Packers won't fold.

Rodgers has been in a percolator many times before and flourished. For Wilson and the Seahawks, this is their first game in the national spotlight.

They'll benefit from the experience long-term, but I see the Packers winning 31-13 tonight.